By James Carnes
For the past year and a half, Talk Normal have been playing the role of revivalists on the New York City noise-rock scene. On their new five-song self-released EP, Secret Cog, (released today) the Brooklyn duo wear their “No Wave” influences on their sleeves, while solidifying their role in the revolution.
Squealing repetitive guitar tones and bombastic trash can drums are mainstay weapons for drummer Andrya Ambro and guitarist Sarah Register. Ambro’s spoken word vocals burn through the clamor and clatter like white-hot phosphorus. This is an ugly album – until you wash away the grime and inspect the intrinsic beauty of the message.
This is best exemplified on Secret Cog’s standout track “Lemonade.” Chirping birds give way to a catchy up-tempo guitar riff. The rhythm builds over unintelligible cryptic vocals. Ambro occasionally asks, “Should you choose to accept?” The song crescendos and segues into a quiet passage where the missive is revealed.
Courage fades to fear. Fear fades to hope. When hope fades, there’s always lemonade.
Should you choose to accept?
Listen to “Lemonade” on The Tripwire here
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TALK NORMAL tour dates:
feb 27 – Annandale-On-Hudson, NY – Bard College (w/ Jana Hunter, Tara Jane O’Neil, Tall Firs, Red Dawn II) feb 28 – Amherst, MA – Prescott Tavern at Hampshire College (w/ Tall Firs, Red Dawn II) mar 11 – Brooklyn, NY – Death By Audio (w/ AIDS Wolf, Sightings, Fiasco, US Girls) mar 12 – Philadelphia, PA – TBA mar 13 – Pittsburgh, PA – Garfield Artworks (w/ Edie Sedgwick, Medications, Afuche, Eat Sugar) mar 14 – Chicago, IL – TBA mar 15 – Iowa City, IA – Public Space One (w/ AIDS Wolf, US Girls, Wet Hair) mar 16 – Lawrence, KS – 8th Street Taproom (w/ Boo and Boo Too, Coat Party) mar 18 – Austin, TX – Natrix Natrix House (w/ Psychedelic Horseshit, Eat Skull, XYX, Ratas) mar 19 – Austin, TX – SXSW mar 20 – Austin, TX – SXSW mar 21 – Austin, TX – SXSW Knitting Factory day party mar 22 – Shreveport, LA – TBA (w/ US Girls) mar 23 – Jackson, MS – TBA (w/ US Girls) mar 24 – Birmingham, AL – TBA (w/ US Girls) mar 25 – Greenville, NC – The Spazz Haus (w/ US Girls & more TBA) mar 26 – Chapel Hill, NC – TBA (w/ US Girls) mar 27 – Baltimore, MD – TBA (w/ US Girls)
